Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-07


Mr.. Robert Smalls of South Carolina,
the colored eX-congressman who was
counted out a. the last election, thus de
scribes the M hods employed fin letter
to the Philadelphia Press. II is the old
story and shows that the old methods still
prevail in "the New South" which still
needs renewing in a good many places:
Among the numerous contrivances to
which they resorted in the late election in
this district to defeat me are the follow
ing
First Traducing the one candidate and
eXtollng the other.
Second Buying up as many colored
men rs they could, not only to vote Tor
their candidate, so that he can make
| fair showing at the polls, but also manu-
featuring testimony before a democratic
and intensely partisan board of commits
sioners after the voting is over,
Third Appointing full board of dem.
ocratic partisans as commissioners oil
election for each county, who IN turn
would appoint like board OF managers
for each precinct.
Fourth. The law requires every voter,
in order to vote, to be registered ana TO
have a certificate of that fact from the
supervisor, who is, of course, Il democrat
ic partisan, who makes out certificates III
blank, and the name is inserted as occa-
sion may require
Fifth. At the polls every obstacle is
offered to keep out republican vote
The voter is rejected sometimes because
his name is not properly spelled, some
times because his residence is not proper
w given-indeed, for any frivolous eau {
that might suggest itself to the mind of q
democratic partisan. .,
Sixth At some places manager vii
deliberately mark the republican ballots
with IA lead pencil, pretending he Is push
ing them into the box, and then throw
them out under the law which says thai
no ballot shall contain any mark or de
vice by which it may be distinguished
, from another.
seventh. At some polls they actual,
stuff the box. When it is time to Close
the polls they can tell from the pOll-lls
exactly how many votes have been poled
and from the sentiment (Which is Away!
outspoken) of the voters they can tell thu
relative strength of the candidates. Ih
manager then opens the box, loads hi
sleeve with as many fraudulent ballots a
he desires, put his hand into the box ant
! lets the fraudulent ballots fly. After as
J.. ccrtaining the exec they draw out jus
! as many ef the republican ballots AS they
desire. :,
Eighth. At many large republican poll
the managers fail to appear and the poll
are not opened at all
Ninth. At some polls where the ballot
box is opened to count the votes the man
-, ayers deliberately empty the whole con
tents of the box on Il pile of democratic
! tickets lying on the table. They the
wipe ont the republican majority in dis
posing of the excess as provided by law
| Tenth. AT some places they swell III
e. democratic majority, already fraudulent
obtained by counting the votes OF on
= district IN another.
p Eleventh. In Georgetown county tn
commissioners threw out the votes OF tn
o following polls because all of the mar
Y ayers didn't serve-a majority quallne
t and acted but all didn't, and therefore tn
votes were not lawful-viz. Griens, C
. dar Creek. Santee and Sandy Island, eac
t giving republican majority.
Twelfth. In Beaufort county the con
missioners threw out the votes of st. He
ena precinct because OF lntlmldatiol
bribery threats, etc, when the two Unite
Il States supervisors, the president of tn
IL democratic club and most of the respects
BILE citizens declared that it was the mo:
e peaceable and quiet election held sine
:, the war.
Thirteenth In Berkeley county III
o votes at the Episcopal church precin'
n were thrown out because the maiagel
II didn't have the registration book, no
withstanding each voter had to show n
n registration certificate before he vote
: but of course this poll was large ON
l. and largely republican.
Fourteenth. In Orangeburgh count
T at Forte Motto, the votes were not coun
ed because the managers failed to sen
their returns in within the time, notwlt
u standing the box was in before the ca
u vassers began the count.
II Yours truly,
ROBERT SMALLS.
e Beaufort, :. c., Dec. a, 1855.
u